 Today, staff from operational management of Tanah Lot Object, all committee of tourism awareness group "Surya Chandra Tanah Lot", and merchant group ngaturang ngayah (workforce) at Tanah Lot Temple. Because, on next Wednesday there is ceremonial event on the temple. In the morning on 7 AM, all staff and commitee already start the workforce or ngayah. The word ‘ngayah’ is hard to define, it is derived from the word ‘ayah’ means ‘voluntary work,’ and the word ‘ngayah’ itself can be defined as ‘working voluntarily.’ Though the ‘ngayah’ activity is voluntarily based activity but constant failure to join this activity will result the wrath of God and community. The wrath of God is believed to be the source of misfortune but the worst and most feared misfortune for the Balinese comes from the wrath of community. The constant failure to join ‘ngayah’ activities during a long period of time is considered as a sign of inconformity and disloyalty to the society, for Balinese the golden rule is ‘if we share the good time we must also share the bad.’ Many activity like collecting wewalungan and making penjor are part of Tanah Lot ceremony on August 3rd, 2008 until August 6th, 2008 on Buda Cemeng Langkir . Wewalungan is all kind of equipment which will used for ceremony like duck, chicken, goose, bebantenan and any other. After collected, all of that wewalungan must sacrifises first before used for "banten caru" for ceremony. Caru is devoting to the demon or bhuta kala, usually the form are with five chicken with a different color. The function of this offerings is so that the demon not disturb activities during the ceremony until finish. Besides collecting wewalungan activity, there is another activity that is making "penjor".
Penjor is one important Balinese religion instrument at the ceremonial occasion usually stood on the home ground often on the roadside and decorated in young coconut leaves. A Penjor is offering in the form of decorated bamboo pole whose gracefully curving upper end is said to resemble both the tail of the barong, symbol of goodness, and the peak of the sacred mountain, Mount Agung. Penjor will put down in some place at Tanah Lot Temple there are, at first arch when entered Tanah Lot Temple area (close with Penyawang Temple), at Beji or source of holy water, at Penyawang Temple, and at Tanah Lot Temple it self. Although at now at Tanah Lot Temple still doing preparation for ceremony next two days, but many pemedek or prayer already coming to Tanah Lot Temple to do pray. Most of them are from outside Tabanan regency. They come early before temple anniversary day because they want to pray with silent and calm atmosphere. Because, at temple anniversary day, usually many hindus people pray so that prayer must milling around to pray. |
